Ranked #2615

Kimi ga Uso wo Tsuita (Manga)

“Hey Midori, why do people lie?”

The double edge sword of seeing a lie. Would you want it?

Saki’’s father left one day with the promise that he’d be back. He didn’t, she waited and waited and no one came. Now a teen and in high school, she has a boyfriend and a great best friend. Life’s great, until lies mess it up for her. One car accident and when she wakes up everything’s the same but different, she could see when someone is lying. That person’s aura change to black right before her eyes. Saki soon realizes that the change signifies a lie. All around her everyone is lying and now she can’t escape it.

The plot revolves around the truth that people lie, every day, even about mundane things that don‘t even deserve a lie. Which is probably why to me, this was a very easy to read manga, just sit back and watch the plot unfold. Subject was real-ish enough.
It starts very interesting and you get to see a drama you really wouldn’t want to live through (but it’s ok since it’s not you) untangle.
The beginning chapters are what made me want to read the rest. Come on, she wakes up from an accident and sees people in dark light when they lie. Am I the only one thinking she has her future working as an interrogator set? Human lie detector...

Anyway, towards the last few chapters it wasn’t the same feeling. The mystery wasn’t the same, the wondering. I want to say that it was anticlimactic, if anything it was because I expected something bigger, a bigger secret or lie you can say, but it felt short of my expectations.
I did like the spin on her being able to actually see the lies even if we don‘t find out why it‘s possible, but the way the doctors treated her when she went to them for help was severely messed up. If anything that was just plain weird. Come on doc, at least pretend that since I'm the first case EVER to see people change colors when they lie is a weird thing.

The characters were interesting. Some, most…. They started out interesting but it didn’t end that way. There are a lot of weak characters that don’t serve much of a purpose other than us seeing them as liars. There was one character in particular whose role made me believe was going to have a bigger role or make a bigger difference in the plot but it was just a small addition.

Saki wasn’t an exceptional character but had a very sincere voice. She believed people and didn’t think of the possibility that lies could creep up on her doorstep. Though hating liars because of her father, she never really gave it much thought about the quantity of people in her life that lie so easily, herself included. It was a new and realistic glimpse to see through Saki’s eyes the interactions with people. It makes us wonder how many lies we actually say without even noticing.

Midori’s character was the one I believed was the most important in Saki’s life. He was the exception in her life full of liars. The redeeming for humanity if you will. Even though it could all turn sour with him at any moment he never lied to her, even though she kept waiting for it, sometimes seeking it. Saki saw and believed, and with reason, that most people lie. All the time. But he was honest and sincerely wanted to protect her. To a girl who has no one left, those words and the truth in them were a breath of fresh air. It was Saki’s proof that truthful people did exist.

The art was simple. Nothing ostentatious about it or eye catching other than it was done averagely well. The flashback are really cute though, it portrays their child self perfectly.

Her character learns and grows throughout which in the scheme of things isn't too shabby.
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Having read all available chapters that I can get my hands on, I can quite safely conclude that "Kimi ga Uso wo Tsuita" really is your average shoujo- a decent read if you're procrastinating, an even better read if you don't want to think too much.

Certainly not a unique plot by any means- though I do commend the fact that the mangaka DOES actually acknowledge both the pros and cons of 'lying' instead of approaching the topic one sided.

However, the biggest plot flaw at this point of the story is that all the issues raised by the mangaka are not only solved with overwhelming simplicity but are also extravagantly rashed and unrealistic- superseding her attempt to address the deeper, complex moral issues of 'lying'.

The art is decent and the characters- despite their unoriginality- can be related to on some levels. Enjoyment is fair, though at this point of the story- I look forward to being proved wrong. read more